I don't know much about VOIP options, but this is the kind of service I'd like to switch to. However, I have only 2 requirements. 1 - I can transfer my existing home phone number (drop my existing phone provider). 2 - I can send/receive faxes on my stand alone fax machine.

Sceptic: Can't help with the first question, im sure they do it differently to OZ.But I can help with your second question.You would need to purchase an ATA & set it up as an extension in the phone system, but it is extremely unreliable, especially if you are sending the call over VoIP. You could look for one that supports the T38 faxing protocol & find a VoIP company that does also, but you're still probably not going to like the results.

For just receiving, Asterisk can receive faxes & email them to you as a PDF, you will find the configuration In Phones Setup under General Settings

1. Not sure if they port numbers, since they call it "leasing" a number. I suspect that you cannot port to or from landvoice. But for $.99/month, who cares. Permanent numbers are best for cell phones anyway.

2. VOIP is meant for voice only, but sure faxing may work *sometimes. If you must fax from a machine, then get a landline. Or just use internet faxing, it is the future anyway.

1. Not sure if they port numbers, since they call it "leasing" a number. I suspect that you cannot port to or from landvoice. But for $.99/month, who cares. Permanent numbers are best for cell phones anyway.

2. VOIP is meant for voice only, but sure faxing may work *sometimes. If you must fax from a machine, then get a landline. Or just use internet faxing, it is the future anyway.

I use my home number for 2 things - faxing and places that require a phone number (and later sell the number putting me on eleventy billion call lists). I recently ported my land line number to Comcast voip.. Meaning, I'm currently using voip for faxing with a number ported from a land line. I just want to save a few bucks and get something that integrates with LMCE. I'd even consider giving up my existing number, but reliable faxing (fax machine to/from fax machine) is unfortunately a requirement.

On the other hand, $1/month is basically free so it may be worth the time/effort/extra hardware costs to give it a try in addition to my existing Comcast setup.. Hopefully there are no conflicts and two voip services can work together.

skeptic, so you have your telephone line coming out of the cable modem?

Yes.

BTW, if you sign up with stuff from comcast watch their installers like a hawk. Their solution to switching from satellite to cable is to take wire cutters to the line coming from the dish. Their solution for unhooking your land line is to take wire cutters to the phone line coming into your house. I was displeased when I saw what they did without asking to telling me.